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Homeless veterans: Stand Down

July 10, 2011 4:59 PM

Some veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan into the recession are finding themselves homeless. Scott Pelley reports on an annual encampment in San Diego where veterans can find hope, help and services.

Homeless veterans: Stand Down

60 Minutes OverTimeHomeless vets: Does anyone care?

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by combatveteran September 13, 2011 8:32 PM EDT
seen daiue's commenbt above on this ri4gis group assisting RI Operation Stand down... no 501c... chairman was denied membership into the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association...he was thrown out of the American Legion... had problems with the VFW...this ri4gi's was dropped from raising money by the Wounded Warrior Project... hope this RI Operation Stand down smartens up and pulls far away from this ri4gis before its too late...hmmm
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by AVetVoice July 14, 2011 9:34 PM EDT
A Documentary about homeless veterans by a veterans:
www.AVeteransVoiceMovie.com

Here is the movie trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghlaNRIkC30
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by BlogShag July 14, 2011 1:31 PM EDT
USA? The greatest country in the world?? Puhleeez! Give me a freakin' break!
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by veteran042007 July 13, 2011 11:06 PM EDT
To answer a few questions posed here, there is a Stand Down on the east coast. Rhode Island has an annual Stand Down every September, but unlike San Diego, is in place to help veterans year round. They supply housing, food, utility assistance. To those who think that this is only about a religious cult you are mistaken. I'm not religious, I was once a homeless vet with 2 children, a single mom, who landed on Stand Down's doors. I ended up with a career that I wouldn't change for the world helping others who were in the same position as me. For the one who asked why, and or how do they end up this way....if you were never a soldier, sailor, marine or airmen, then you'll never understand. Civilian life can be difficult to transition to from military life. Some have a more difficult time than others. You can only live off a savings for so long, and the small disability check IF you receive one from the VA, until it runs out, because you can't find a job in this economy. Upon leaving the military you are told how employers WANT to hire military...when we have a harder time than many because a lot of our jobs do not transfer into the civilian work force. AND THAT, along with PTSD, disabilities, TBI and god knows how many other issues we are plagued with, is why so many vets, especially those returning from war now, are ending up homeless. Hope that answers some of your questions.
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by loracchicago July 13, 2011 12:37 AM EDT
I am confused, or this story may not be complete. I know several people who served in the navy. They purchased a home, one was in the process of buying a multifamily dwelling here in Chicago while still serving, another purchased two automobiles at one time one for her and one for her mother I inquired how they were able to do this they told me they get a check every month, however they do not need to pay any bills or buy food nor do they need transportation. I also know one person serving said they decided to rent an apartment just because they wanted to stay off the base sometime They have told me they save 80-90 percent of their check. All of there needs are provided. These veterans who end up homeless are they not paid while they serve? I believe one vet said he was able to use some savings for a while. I do not know how much they are given but I do know that they get a check every month but all their needs are supplied. Please do not misunderstand me anyone can end up homeless. I wonder if it would help if they are counseled on saving or planning for the future. I do believe the country owes them for their service and should do all they can to help them. I think you should do a story on the successful veterans and maybe do a little more pre service training
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by gahhammer July 12, 2011 7:16 PM EDT
This is unacceptable. Several months ago, I saw a story on a vet in a wheel chair, that lost his legs in Iraq. It seems the VA decided he wasn't disabled enough for them to pay his college tuition. The VA actually had nerve enough to say this man wasn't disabled enough. The Vet's reply was, how disabled do they want me to be? This is just plain sick, stupid,and wrong. We had a President and Vice President that got deferments to not go to Vietnam, now veterans can't even get their entitlements, after Bush and Cheney started these wars!
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by Beadmatrix July 12, 2011 7:05 AM EDT
Great story - we need an East Coast equivalent, and if the stats hold, then about 10% of that 1000 vets probably have a substance abuse problem, and only 60-70 out of that 100 got to treatment there. John Kerry, are you listening? PA is cen...trally located, with plenty of room to play host... (you could get folks from NY - Philly - DC no problem). Why can't those vets that successfully go thru treatment be employed in squadrons for a short time to reach out to homeless vets in other cities? And what else might they be able to contribute, like the old WPA - and whoa! Wikipedia just reminded me there were two WPA's in American History: the War Powers Act and the Works Progress Administration. Why can't War Power be transformed into Works Progress once again?
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by fv0828 July 11, 2011 8:32 PM EDT
Seeing this I wondered how many of these Veterans are Officers. I'll bet none. All Enlisted. The Officers make out well and the Enlisted don't. The draft prevented multiple deployments when I was in the Navy 1962 - 1966. Over using the Reserves and Guard was unheard of then. These Vets today deserve everthing possible because of the nature of these wars today. Those that volunteer in this world today deserve the highest honor. But they still come. It angers me to see this happening to them.
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by bigfoot54 July 11, 2011 6:11 PM EDT
I also applaud the effort, but please keep in mind that everyday another veteran is living on the street. We need to do all that we can for these brave men, and women. We started a bank to help other front line groups that at times cannot meet the needs of our Veterans, but our coffers are limited at this time, so we do what we can, when we can. I have an idea how to raise more funds but need sponsors to pull it together so that we might be able to help as many as possible. Not a hand-out, but a Hand-up.

Please feel free to contact us at www.vetaidnational.org
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by solomonm01 July 11, 2011 1:49 PM EDT
I wish to applaud Scott Pelley's and 60 Minutes on the "stand down" report. The work being done in SF to help these warriors that have given so much to our nation's security is worthy of praise. Keep it up!

M. Solomon
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